Bacolod, best place to live

My guests at Feedback tonight are Dr. Romy Reyes and Dr. Ritchie Yusay both urologists. We will discuss the problems of elderly men. Dr. Yusay’s wife, Dr. Michelle Yusay, was our guest months ago. We discussed strokes.

Our topic, “Bato sa Bato”. Or stones in the kidney.

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When I met Mayor Bing Leonardia last Wednesday, I asked him about the details of the decision declaring Bacolod as the best place to live. He then instructed Dr. Roger Balo, who is now back from vacation, to send me a copy of the magazine “Money Sense” that contained the article.

“Money Sense” editor-in-chief Heinz G. Bulos wrote the article on Bacolod based on records. He wrote in his editorial the three components of what is believed to make a place the best to live: standard of living, quality of life, and cost of living.

In all these three, Bacolod excelled.

The ranking of  the first top ten follows: 1. Bacolod, 2. Makati, 3. Davao, 4. Marikina, 5. Iloilo, 6. Las Piñas, 7. Pasig, 8. San Fernando (Pampanga), 9. Mandaluyong, and 10. Quezon City.

The next ten are: 11. Manila, 12. Batangas, 13. Cagayan de Oro, 14. Muntinlupa, 15. Angeles, 16. Baguio, 17. Lipa, 18. Calamba, 19. General Santos, and 20. Cebu.

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“Money Sense” also quoted Glady Tumulto, 31, who writes a blog called “Promdi/Living.com.” She was born and raised in a small town in Iloilo and has lived in Bacolod the last four years. She must come either from Tubungan or Igbaras in Iloilo.

Wrote Glady, “Bacolod is an urban city with that distinct Southern charm. It keeps abreast with development yet still maintains the laidback lifestyle.”

Actually, the basis for the decision was the record of all the cities. And Bacolod has shown to have garnered more awards from different entities.

Bacolod was adjudged by the Asian Institute of Management as the “Most Competitive Mid-Sized City in the Philippines.”

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Its thriving commerce and trade economy, business enterprises in growth areas like technology, business process outsourcing, financial services, travel, eco-tourism and energy, which entrepreneurs and investors like made Bacolod the “Most Friendly Local Government in the Philippines” according to the article.

In terms of quality of life it is enviable, it said, because the pace of life is slower than other highly-urbanized cities and the streets and air are clean, that earned for Bacolod an award as a “Clean and Green Hall of Fame.”

It says it has wide roads, less traffic, with excellent traffic plan, low crime incidence and low percentage of illegal settlers. It has no pollution and low crime rate with good road network and allows high mobility rate.

No politics. No political personality was named in the article.

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It also said cost of living is affordable. Housing, it said, is relatively inexpensive. Cost of food, utilities and even real property are lower compared to neighboring cities, according to Ms Tumulto.

Bacolod is also good for children with so many well established and well known universities. It reported of two universities, La Salle and UNO-R. Now it has three, with West Negros.

And Bacoleños love to have fun. It said there are diverse cultural and recreational activities from golf courses and enormous sports stadia. Recently, Bacolod was also named Football City.

Bacolod people love to eat. It also said outsiders should know Bacolod has more to offer, not just piaya.

I believe in all these. I am an immigrant to Bacolod. I came here some 50 years ago from Iloilo and decided with my late wife, this is the place to stay. It offers more opportunities. I like the people.

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I recall my close British friend Neil Honeyman, after his retirement in Hong Kong, with his wife Josephine from Cavite, went to live in Davao.

But because of peace and order in Mindanao they decided to look for another place and, after visiting many other cities, in 1994, I think, chose Bacolod. I think he likes it here. I would like to believe other foreign nationals who live here have the same thinking.

The greatest asset of Bacolod, I think, is its people, friendly and enterprising. And foreigners like it more with the musical, sing-song way of speaking, native to the Ilonggo dialect.*

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